Common Leopard

Phalanta phalanta phalanta ( Drury) NYMPHALIDAE

(=Atella phalantha ( Drury))

Adult

uppperside bright yellowish brown with rows of black spots and wavy lines. Markings slightly larger in female. Underside very pale brownish. Markings as above but indistinct. HW with a pinkish tinge. Wingspan 50-60mm.

An insect of dry weather, occurring at the edges of the jungles, on the plains, in the gardens and up to 2500m in the Himalayas . avoids shady places and drinks from damp patches and on wet roads during hot weather. Visits flowers of Lantana, Thistles, Pigeon berry, etc. also known as the leopard butterfly.

Larva

Dark brown to pale yellowish greenor grey with oily glossy smooth body having 6 longitudinal rows of sharp branched spines with white or yellowish spot at the base of each spine.

Feeds mostly on plants of Bixaceae, especially Madagascar Plum, Laurel Greenbrier, Indian Willow, Flacourtia Montana, etc.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, south western Arabia, Africa, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and Hongkong.